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ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO 3863　8 March 1951

FIELD REPORT (IX CORPS MIDI - 0287)　16 February 1951

PW cooperative and willingly gave information. Information limited. Not recommended for further interrogation.

Both PW were in CNA for about 9 yr and subsequently captured by the CCF, in Oct 49, and assigned to present unit.

In late Oct 50, 3rd Bn crossed YALU River from MANCHURIA to MANP’OJIN, KOREA. 38th Army was reported to have crossed at same place.

25 Dec 50, upon arriving north of 38th parallel, 340th Regiment assembled and halted for approximately five days. Proceeded southward, arriving approx 16 km north of SEOUL, 4 Jan 51, and rested for approx one month. During this period a political officer stated that all regimental commanders and above were to attend a conference in CHINA, however, this was reportedly cancelled when UN Forces started the attack.

O/a 4 Feb 51, 340th Regiment crossed frozen HAN River east of SEOUL, and upon arriving approx 2 km south of the river, remained for 4 days. 8 Feb 51, departed, travelling west, but due to changes in destination retraced route just taken, and later moved southeast. On 11 Feb, the 3rd Bn separated from the regiment and continued south-east. Later, the 7th Company further separated from the 3rd Bn, arriving one kilometer north of (CS475438), on 130200 Feb. At 0700 hr the same morning, the company was attacked by UN air, forcing the Co to withdraw. PW were left behind hiding in fox holes, from where they emerged to surrender at 130800 Feb, to the 8th Cav.

38th Army: 112th, 113th, 114th Divisions

114 Div: 340th, 341st, 342nd Regt, attached: Arty Co, Engr Co, Med Unit

340 Regt: 3 Inf Bn, Med Unit, Supply Unit, Mortar Plat

3rd Bn: 3 Rifle Co, HMG Co

7th Co: One plat (consolidated from 3 platoons 27 Dec 50)

The regimental strength as of 11 Feb, estimated at 600, and battalion strength at 115.

When the 7th Company was attacked at 130700 Feb, it was inflicted heavy casualties, with only the PW and a handful of others, who were observed fleeing north, remaining.

3rd Bn CP and the Cp of two other companies were located at a village approximately 2 km north of (CS475438) as of 13 Feb. The 7th Company was deployed on a hill approximately one kilometer north of (CS475438), but receiving heavy bombardment from the air attack, it was believed dispersed.

The 1st and 2nd Bn were reportedly located approximately 16 km north of the 7th Company.

Heard that the 38th, 39th, 40th, 50th, 51st, and the 53d Armies were already in KOREA.

Estimated arms and ammo in 7th Co:

There were 3 x 82mm mortars and 9 HMG in the entire 340th Regt, and most of the men were armed with US rifles. There were two jeeps in the regiment for the regimental commanders.

The last ammo supply received was on 23 Jan, during the rest north of SEOUL. 1000 rd per machine gun, and 50 rd per rifleman were distributed.

Food supplies were received on two separate occasions, in Dec and once around 28 Jan 51. When the second food supply was received shoes were also distributed. The food consisted of 3 pounds of kaoliang per man, which amounted to a day and a half rations. Otherwise food was foraged from villagers, for which, certificates redeemable upon presentation to the NK government, were given. They had sufficient amount of food at all times.

Company commander told his men that the mission was to hold a defense line running generally one kilometer north of (CS475438), at all costs.

KWANG (fnu) (官), 41, CO 340th Regt

YEN Fu Chai (嚴福才), 31, 1st Plat Ldr

The 7th Co Comdr was KIA at the hill on 13 Feb 51 by air strafing.

LEE Kwon Rau (李光孝), 25, Asst CO, 7th Co, 340th Regt.

He was wounded and evacuated.

There were 5 or 6 cases of influenza and about 7 of frostbite. The rest of the men were in good condition.

Saw an engineer unit (approx 100 men) approx 5 km N of the 38th parallel, near river, 30 Dec 50. They were building a bridge across the river (about 200 m wide). The bridge was just wide enough to accommodate a truck. Logs were being used in the construction.

O/a 6 Feb 51, heard a surrender broadcast from an aircraft, and on 8 Feb 51 they picked up surrender leaflets, after they had crossed the HAN River. Majority of the members of their company, who were former CNA, believed in the leaflets. The political leader told them not to believe in those leaflets because they are just a trick to lower their morale of CCF troops. He also told them that if they were captured, they would be killed.

For the AC of S, G-2: